PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Jan. 31, 2026 – The University of South Florida men's basketball team narrowly fell, 79–78, to Temple on Saturday night at the Liacouras Center. The Bulls battled through a one-possession game that featured 11 lead changes and came down to the final seconds.
Izaiyah Nelson led South Florida with 18 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and 10 made free throws.
Wes Enis finished with 17 points and three made 3-pointers, continuing his stretch as one of the nation's most active perimeter scorers.
Joseph Pinion added 16 points, delivering his biggest impact in the second half off the bench.
CJ Brown recorded 11 points and six assists, extending his streak to 20 straight games with at least three assists and maintaining his lead atop the American Conference in assists.
Temple opened the game with early momentum, but South Florida settled in and answered with a 10–3 run to cut into the deficit by the 10:35 mark of the first half.
Wes Enis and
Devin Haid attacked the paint to generate scoring during the stretch.
The Bulls adjusted defensively soon after, shifting into zone coverage around the 8:45 mark to disrupt Temple's rhythm. The change forced rushed possessions and stagnant offensive sets, limiting dribble penetration and ball movement. Adian Tobiason, who scored six quick points early, was held scoreless for several minutes following the adjustment. South Florida entered the break trailing by one, 39–38.
South Florida opened the second half with a Pinion three-pointer eight seconds in, assisted by
CJ Brown, to take the lead. The game shifted into a defensive stretch as both teams traded stops during a brief scoring drought. South Florida continued to apply pressure, forcing 12 turnovers against a Temple team that averages among the fewest turnovers per game nationally.
South Florida closed the gap late behind a key stretch from
Joseph Pinion off the bench. Pinion knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to tie the game at 73–73 with 3:09 remaining, then attacked downhill for a layup and free throw to give the Bulls a 76–73 lead with 2:28 to play. Nelson's dunk with 22 seconds left put South Florida in front, 78–77, before Temple answered in the closing moments.
Note-a-Bulls:
- Disruptive Defense – The Bulls forced 12 turnovers against a Temple team that averages among the fewest turnovers per game nationally.
- Assist Impact – CJ Brown extended his streak to 20 straight games with at least three assists and leads the American Conference in assists.
Up Next:
South Florida returns home on Wednesday, Feb. 4, to host UTSA at the Yuengling Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. for Student Appreciation Night and Arthur Jones Night. The matchup will air on ESPN+, with radio coverage available on Bulls Unlimited.
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About USF Men's Basketball
South Florida men's basketball named Bryan Hodgson, 37, as the program's 12th head coach on March 24, 2025. Hodgson came to Tampa from Arkansas State, where he led the program to back-to-back 20-win seasons and its first postseason appearance since 1999 in his two seasons at the helm.
The program, entering its 55th season in 2025-26, most recently won the American Athletic Conference regular season championship in 2023-24 and has made 13 postseason appearances, including three NCAA Tournaments, nine NITs, and a CBI championship in 2019. Three former Bulls – Chucky Atkins, Charlie Bradley, and Rodenko Dobras – have had their jerseys retired and are members of the USF Athletic Hall of Fame. The Bulls play their home games at the 10,400-seat Yuengling Center on the USF Tampa campus.
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